LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

 

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, May 2, 2023   6:00 p.m.

 

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Parish School Board, Ruston, Louisiana. Members present were Ms. Debbie Abrahm, Mr. Otha Anders, Mr. Clark Canterbury, Ms. Donna Doss, Mr. David Ferguson, Mr. Danny Hancock, Mr. George Mack, Jr., Mr. Joe Mitcham, Mr. Gregg Phillips, Mr. Hunter Smith, and Dr. Danielle Williams.

Ms. Lynda Henderson was absent.        

 

                        President Mitcham called the meeting to order, welcomed visitors, and gave the invocation. Mr. Smith led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.

 

                        Upon a motion by Mr. Anders, seconded by Mr. Phillips and Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed. 

 

                        Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Ms. Doss and Mr. Smith, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Session held on April 4, 2023, as presented.  

 

                        Brandon Sutherland, Communications Coordinator, introduced Jodi Dunbar, a junior at Ruston High School who scored a perfect 36 on her ACT.  Mr. Sutherland shared some comments from one of Jodi’s teachers who described her at a diligent student who is hardworking, humble, and kind.  Jodi introduced her parents who were with her and thanked them, along with the many teachers and counselors who helped and encouraged her to prepare for this great achievement. 

 

                        Following a month of studying an addition to one policy, John Young, Assistant Superintendent, asked board members to approve the proposed changes to the policy manual.

 

                       Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Ms. Abrahm, the Board unanimously voted to approve the addition to GBCA – Protection of Criminal Background Information.   

 

                        In order to comply with state law, Ricky Edmiston, Supervisor of Auxiliary Services, voiced the annual request for permission to advertise for bids on duplicating paper and fuel for schools with an aggregate cost of $60,000 or more.

 

Upon a motion by Ms. Doss, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for the purchase of duplicating paper and fuel for the 2023-2024 school year.

 

Next Mr. Edmiston asked the Board to grant permission to advertise for bids to replace three chillers for Ruston High School.  Funds to pay for the new chillers will come from ESSER grant funds.

 

Upon a motion by Mr. Hancock, seconded by Mr. Phillips, the Board unanimously voted to grant permission to advertise for bids for the replacement of the Ruston High School chillers and also grant permission to the district administration to accept the lowest qualified bid.

 

Juanita Duke, Chief Financial Officer, presented to the Board a summary of the elections held on April 29, 2023. She asked the Board to consider adopting the resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring election results.  The total votes for Ruston School District No. 1, including absentee ballots, was as follows:  814 FOR and 1,856 AGAINST, failing by a majority of 1,042 votes.  The total votes for Simsboro School District No. 3, including absentee ballots was as follows:  155 FOR and 139 AGAINST, passing by a majority of 16 votes.  In order to comply with the Louisiana Election Code, the Board must adopt a resolution canvassing the results of the election.

 

Upon a motion by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Anders, the Board unanimously voted by roll call to adopt the following:

 

RESOLUTION

A resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of

the special elections held in (i) Ruston School District No. 1 of the Parish of

Lincoln, State of Louisiana and (ii) Simsboro School District No. 3 of the Parish

of Lincoln, State of Louisiana, on Saturday, April 29, 2023, to authorize the

issuance of general obligation bonds therein.

 

                        Next Ms. Duke asked the Board to grant permission to distribute instructional monies to schools.  She said that in the spring of each year, schools are allocated funds from the 1979 Sales Tax Fund for the purchase of instructional supplies for the following school year.  This allocation is based upon student enrollment as of October 1, 2022, and supply funds are allocated for Art, P.E., Library Supplies, Music, Periodicals, and Science. Dr. Williams asked for clarification on how these monies are spent.  She specifically asked if they are used for curriculum supplies or professional development.  Ms. Duke explained that their intended use is for instructional supplies.

 

                        Upon a motion by Mr. Phillips, seconded by Mr. Smith, the Board unanimously voted to approve the allocation of instructional supply monies from the 1979 Sales Tax Fund in the amount of $69,891.50 to be distributed to schools for the 2023-2024 school year.  

 

            The following personnel items were shared by Dr. Doris Lewis, Director of Human Resources:

1. Administrative Point of Reference effective July 1, 2023:

Employment of Christopher Jones, principal at Choudrant High School effective July 1, 2023, replacing Tony Antley who retired.

2.     Resignation of the following effective May 27, 2023, unless otherwise stated:

 

David Johnson, teacher at Cypress Springs Elementary;

Summer Nimmers, teacher at I. A. Lewis;

Rebecca Smith, teacher at I. A. Lewis;

DaVarika Calloway, math teacher at Ruston High;

Betsy McCaslin, English teacher at Ruston Junior High;

Angelia Jones, teacher at Simsboro School;

Rose Hunter, prekindergarten paraprofessional at Simsboro School;

Randall Carlisle, health & physical education teacher/coach at Simsboro School; and

 

Cindy Horton, bookkeeper at Simsboro School effective June 24, 2023.  

 

                        Ms. Duke reported on sales taxes collected for the month ending April 2023.  She reported collections were about the same as this month last year. Collections are up approximately 4.69% compared to the previous year.

 

                        Moving on to the financial statement for March 2023, Ms. Duke said the total revenues collected in the general fund to date were $43.6 million, year-to-date  expenditures were $36.9 million, and the total ending fund balance in the general fund operating funds was $34.3 million. The total undesignated fund balance was $23.8 million, which is approximately 24% of budgeted operating expenses. The total revenues for our special revenue funds are at $28.2 million collected to date, total expenditures from those funds of $20.6 million, with a total ending fund balance of $25.3 million.   

 

                        In the Health Insurance Fund report, Ms. Duke shared that total plan expenditures for March 2023 were $3.5 million, approximately $500,000 more than the first three months of last year.  We have had some increases in claims costs, mainly in the area of prescription drugs.  The total contributions to the plan is $3.6 million and the total overall year-to-date is a positive change in plan net assets of $126,000.  

 

                        In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Durrett said:

1.     We have entered graduation season. Choudrant High School graduation will be May 15th at 7:00, at Howard Auditorium, Simsboro High School graduation will be May 16th at 7:00, at Howard Auditorium, and Ruston High School graduation is May 23rd at 7:00, at Thomas Assembly Center.

 

2.     Testing is finishing up, and we are looking forward to completing the 2022-23 school year at the end of this month.

 

3.     We are planning now for Summer School, which will be for three weeks beginning June 12 - June 30.  Students will attend full days and bus transportation will be provided.  We will also have an ACT workshop the week prior to Summer School, starting June 5th, which leads up to the ACT test for those students who signed up to take it in the summer.

 

4.     Teacher Leader Summit will be held the last week in May.  Approximately 56 teachers and administrators will attend this conference in New Orleans and travel together by charter bus.

 

                              Mr. Mitcham asked Mr. Durrett to talk a little about the schools that were recognized as Comeback Campuses by LDOE.  He said these schools were Cypress Springs, Dubach, Choudrant Elementary, and I.A. Lewis.  All of these schools either improved in ELA or Math for students scoring Mastery or above, and decreased the number of students scoring Unsatisfactory.  Mr. Ferguson asked for statistics on how much each school grew.   Mr.Durrett explained that this information came from the state and he would get that information.  Discussion continued with comments and questions from Dr. Williams in relation to the Comeback Campuses, and concerns about bullying in schools.

 

                           After some discussion by board members and the public, upon a motion by Mr. Phillips, seconded by Ms. Doss, the meeting adjourned at 6:44 p.m.

                                                           

______________________________                                       _______________________________

Ricky Durrett, Secretary                                                          Joe E. Mitcham, Jr., President